How To Detect Parasites On A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?
Traditional Methods of Parasite Detection
Have you ever thought about if you can find out if there are parasites on a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) without needing to do a stool test?
Parasites are often found by looking at a person’s symptoms, past health, and lab tests. A doctor will ask about things like where you have traveled, if you were around unsafe food or water, or if you spent time with animals. The doctor will also want to know how long you have had signs such as diarrhea, feeling tired, stomach pain, or losing weight for no clear reason.
Using what they know, the doctor will send samples to the lab. A stool test is common. It means checking one or several stool samples under a tool that helps them see small things to find eggs, larvae, or cysts that show the person has parasites. Staining liquids or steps to make the sample stronger can be used so it’s easier to find the problem.
If a parasite is suspected in the blood, like with malaria, a blood smear or other tests on the blood can be done. The lab may look for specific antigens or use PCR. A test that finds parasite antibodies in the blood can also help if you can’t see the parasite right in the sample. Sometimes, scans or tissue samples may be needed if it looks like the parasites are in parts like the liver, brain, or lungs.
Symptoms of Parasitic Infections
The symptoms that show you have parasites can be different. It depends on the type and where it is in your body. A lot of people feel sick in their stomach or feel bad in other parts of the body. A few common problems are having diarrhea that will not go away, trouble with constipation, lots of gas, or feeling bloated. There can be belly pain or cramping with this.
You might feel more hungry than usual, or you might not feel like eating at all. You may lose weight for no reason. Some people feel tired or weak, or feel sick all over. This may happen because of a lack of nutrients or from your body trying to fight off the bugs.
Skin can also have problems, like rashes, itching, or hives. This is noticed more when these bugs stay in the skin or when there are allergic reactions. Other symptoms are feeling like you will throw up, or actually throwing up. In more serious or long-lasting cases, there can be signs that you are losing blood or not getting enough nutrients. This can make you feel even more tired or weak.
If these bugs are found outside your stomach, like in the liver, lungs, or brain, then more serious signs can show up. A person may feel problems with breathing, feel mixed up, or feel sick in many other ways.
HTMA as a Non-Invasive Detection Method
However, stool analysis and some other tests can be hard to go through or cost a lot. And you know what, with the right symptoms and a check of your minerals, you can often find out if there are parasites by just doing an HTMA.
How? Read below.
High Iron
Elevated iron on an HTMA can show that there is an infection in the body. The body moves iron into the tissues so the parasite or bacteria does not use it as food. Iron can help give energy to these infections. It can also show that there is swelling or irritation in the body.
High Na:K Ratio
A high Na:K ratio shows the difference in charge between the cells. When this ratio goes up, it can mean there is swelling, stress, or an infection in the body. This could show that a person may have a problem with parasites if they also feel sick and have other matching signs. If sodium numbers are also higher than normal, it can add to this idea.
Low Cobalt
A low level of cobalt tells us that there is not enough acid in the stomach. When the stomach does not have enough acid, it becomes easier for bugs and germs to get through. They can move from the stomach into the intestines. This can make a person sick for a long time. The body might not get all the good things it needs from food. It can also cause the gut to become red and sore.
If you feel like you have signs of parasites and want to do an HTMA to see if you might have them, schedule your HTMA with us!
Conclusion
This blog explains how Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can be a helpful and simple way to look for signs of parasites by checking mineral trends in the hair. Most people still use stool or blood tests to find these issues, as these are still the main ways for doctors to know for sure. However, HTMA is a good choice for those who feel bad for a long time and do not have good ways to get usual tests. When you look at things like too much iron, a high sodium-to-potassium ratio, or low cobalt, it helps the doctor spot problems that might come from parasites. HTMA does not fully take the place of the main tests. Still, HTMA gives the doctor a good way to check, more so if you also look at other symptoms.